#TotalCAFCC: Rangers bow out in defeat

Nigeria’s Rangers International
ended their CAF Confederations Cup, Group B campaign with a slender 0-1 defeat to Tunisia’s CS Sfaxein at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Nigeria, on Sunday.

Nigeria’s Rangers International ended its CAF Confederations Cup, Group B campaign with a slender 0-1 defeat to Tunisia’s CS Sfaxein at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Nigeria, on Sunday.

The result, combined with Group B’s other result on Sunday which saw Etoile Sahel beat Salitas 1-0, means Sfaxien finish top of the standings with 12 points.

Etoile Sahel are second with ten points while Rangers, in third with five points, and Salitas, last with four points, exit the cup competition.

The first half produced very little in terms of goal-mouth action with both sides squandering possession in the final third.

The home side did see more of the ball, but they struggled to create any real openings as the half ended goalless.

Sfaxien started to find their feet in the second half and saw more of the ball which allowed them to take the lead in the 73rd minute courtesy of a strike from Nadhir Korichi.

Rangers tried to find their way back into the match and controlled the flow of the game after going behind, but they couldn’t find an equaliser as they exited the tournament.

Coach of Rangers, Ogunbote said after the encounter, “I must say that today was not just our day. We had four balls hit the post and just their only effort at goal went in. It was a bad day in the office but my boys did their very best under a very harsh condition. We leave with our heads held high as we go back to the league to navigate our way back to the continent. I congratulate C.S Sfaxien for their win and qualification.”

C.S Sfaxien head coach, Ruud Krool said at the post match conference, “It was a well managed game by my players and we got the victory to crown our efforts. Rangers gave us a good game but we stood our ground in a very challenging condition. We continue with our search for another continental glory at the end of the season.”